LORD, remember David and all his self-denial. – Psalm 132:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 31, 2019): Psalm 132

Ed Sheeran released his song “Eraser” on March 3, 2017. Sheeran admits that the song gave him a chance to vent a little on some of the things that had happened over the past five years. Sheeran says that "Friends and family are meant to be the ones who are there for you, 90% of the time they are, but every now and then there is the odd comment that just like sinks your soul." I liked the wording. It is amazing how the odd comments from people that we hoped would be standing with us always seem to penetrate our defenses. I think that friends and family are often the ones who have the greatest capacity to “sink our souls.”

The translator decides to use the word “self-denial” to describe the experiences of David. It is an interesting translation of the Hebrew word “`anah,” especially when it is applied to David. David was a great king, and a man after God’s own heart, but David also got himself into trouble because he did not deny himself. This is especially apparent in his lust for Bathsheba, his dealings with his family, and some aspects of his pride and strength. If David had denied himself a little more, he might have saved himself some heartache.

Maybe a better translation of the word is to return to the traditional presentation of the word here as “affliction” or even “troubles.” David had been a King who had suffered much during his life, and yet he had endured. And this was especially painful when it involved those close to him. For years, David had suffered at the hands of Saul, a man that David had supported and against whom he had refused to raise a hand. He was criticized by his family and some of his wives. One of David’s sons was guilty of raping one of his daughter’s. Twice his sons had tried to remove him as king so that they could take the throne for themselves. His people, while lauding his accomplishments, seemed hesitant to accept him as King. David had many critics among his contemporaries, but some of the most pointed complaints came from those closest to him. David was unquestionably a man of troubles.

And yet, through all of this, he became the King for which Israel would eventually yearn. And while there was much that would threaten to “sink his soul,” he remained the perfect king for Israel during his time on the throne. And maybe we need to remember, in those moments when those closest to us threaten to “sink our souls,” that God is still in control. We are the people God needs for our time. And he isn’t finished with us yet.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 1

May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. – Psalm 72:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 30, 2019): Psalm 72

It is known simply as “The River.” Every other river needed to be qualified in some way, but not “The River.” “The River” reigns over all of the also-rans. “The River” was considered to be a God, and cities built on its banks attempted to connect themselves with the God of the River. It was also old. Biblically, “The River” makes its entry into our consciousness in Genesis 2. It is the fourth named river to be written down in the biblical book of origins, and even there it is named without any description, while the first three rivers mentioned are all described as to where they were and why they were important. It is as if no explanation was needed for “The River.” 

“The River” is and always has been the Euphrates. The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most significant rivers to flow through Western Asia. The River finds its origins in Eastern Turkey, and it then flows through Syria before finally converging with the Tigris in Southern Iraq and flowing into the Persian Gulf.

But from a biblical standpoint, the River was supposed to form the Northern Border of Israel. Genesis makes this comment; “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates“ (Genesis 15:18). The problem is that Israel proper never extended as far North, or East, as the Euphrates River. During David and Solomon’s reign as Kings, the influence of the nation extended to the Euphrates, but not the borders of the country.

So the Psalmist writes at the beginning of Solomon’s reign a blessing that the King may reign “from sea to sea and from the River (the Euphrates) to the ends of the earth.” Geographically it is hard to fit the blessing into the reign of the new King. Sea to sea might mean from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, but the mention of “from the River to the ends of the earth” takes the blessing to a different level.

The easiest way to understand this verse is that the Psalmist has transitioned from the reign of Solomon to that of the coming Messiah. Solomon might have been reined in by concepts like borders, which did not come close to “The River,” and influence which, while that did reach the banks of “The River” did not come close to “the ends of the earth.” But the Messiah would reign over all of the earth. No borders would contain him. His reign would be over all of the people. And his reign would never end.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 132

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. – Psalm 37:23-24

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 29, 2019): Psalm 37

Maya Angelou wrote, “Do the best until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” The words are good advice. Too often, we seem tempted to go the other way. We try to measure our steps with those of other people. And when they don’t measure up, our temptation is to mirror them, to only do as they have done. They might not know better, but we who do know better decide actively not to do better, because the other way looks easier.

Another assumption that we make is that those around us know better. We actively criticize people for not living up to our standards when they really just don’t know how. None of us are perfect. All of us make missteps. All of us fail at some point. Our only hope is that others will come to our aid and help us move forward. Instead, what often happens is that people like to kick us when we are down.

The Psalmist encourages us to do things differently. He stresses that God will make our steps firm. But that does not mean that we won’t stumble. Even if we are doing our best, sometimes we will fall short. Sometimes we won’t understand what it is that needed from us. But even though we stumble, we will not fall. God will hold us up. And hopefully, so will the people of God. And as a result, as we grow and learn, we can do even better.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 72

I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man … - 1 Kings 2:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 28, 2019): 1 Kings 2

If you are looking for a good cry, I recommend Ed Sheeran's song “Supermarket Flowers.” The song is about the death of his grandmother, written from the point of view of his mom. It is a private song; no one was supposed to hear it except for his family. But at the urging of his grandfather, Ed decided to release the song, and his fans are very thankful that he did (although it is a song that you cry along to instead of sing.)

The opening words of the song talk about the aftermath of his grandmother’s death.

I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill
I threw the day old tea from the cup
Packed up the photo album Matthew had made
Memories of a life that's been loved
Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals
Poured the old ginger beer down the sink
Dad always told me, "don't you cry when you're down"
But mum, there's a tear every time that I blink

Sometimes it is just impossible to hold back those tears. David’s instructions to Solomon reminded me of those last two lines. Oh, there was probably a good reason for David to tell Solomon to “act like a man.” It was something that David had been unable to do when his son Absalom had died rebelling against him. And at the time, David had been chastised for his mourning. The reality was that the nation needed a King who was in control. Solomon would need to stand in front of the people and speak with a force that, even though David was dead, would remind the people that the nation was still okay. So, at least in the eyes of David, Solomon needed to “act like a man – don’t you cry when you’re down.”

And yet there is also a danger, and harm, in David’s words. Man or woman, there are times when the tears come, and they cannot be controlled. I have met those moments in my life, and there is no doubt in my mind that more moments when I will “cry when I’m down” are coming. Tears are a natural part of life. They help us deal with the hurt, and actually help us deal with the pain of living in a healthy way.

Solomon would have to stand in front of the nation with strength and tell the people that everything was fine. But I am not convinced that the people didn’t also need to see him mourn the death of his father. It was a reminder that the King could understand their pain because he experienced his own.

Mourning will come. Meeting it with tears is natural for all of us. Tears are part of life, along with the joy that we understand about the one who has departed. Ed Sheeran chooses to finish his song about his grandma on a note of hope.

So I'll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
You got to see the person that I have become
Spread your wings
And I know that when God took you back he said Hallelujah
You're home

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 37

Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” – 1 Kings 1:52

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 27, 2019): 1 Kings 1

The story of Jihadi Jack is an interesting one. Currently Jack Letts, Jihadi Jack’s actual name, is in a Kurdish prison. But the question that has grabbed our attention is what will happen to him if he somehow gets released from his current detention. Jack Letts is a British Citizen and was born in Oxford; growing up in the United Kingdom. But Letts’s father is Canadian, and so Jack Letts actually possesses dual citizenship; he is both British and Canadian. So on August 18, 2019, Britain revoked his British Citizenship, a move that was only available to the British government because Letts was also a citizen of Canada. According to world regulations, no one can be left without citizenship in at least one country. Letts’s dual citizenship meant that his British citizenship could be removed. However, Canada has yet to acknowledge their long lost son.

What Canada has done is make it clear that they are under no obligation to help Jack Letts get to Canada. If he can somehow gain his release from his Kurdish detention, Letts should not expect to find a plane ticket to Ottawa furnished by the Canadian Government. Letts will have to find his own way to Canada, and if he does, that will then force Canada into deciding what to do with him.

If Canada were to let Jihadi Jack into the country, it could be expected that he would be kept on a short leash. Jack Letts has repented of his behavior; he has admitted that he did not understand the Islamic faith and that lack of understanding fed into his actions and his identification with the Islamic State. But if he is granted entrance into Canada, any further transgressions would likely result in additional sanctions being directed toward him in his newfound home.

Adonijah made his move to become the King of Israel, and he failed. As Solomon is crowned as King and the people of Israel accept his rule over them, Adonijah is in a difficult spot. What Adonijah should expect in this situation is his immediate execution at the hands of the new king. And so Adonijah runs toward the Temple hoping that there he can find sanctuary. And word is brought to King Solomon that Adonijah refuses to leave the Temple unless Solomon promises not to harm him. The typical reaction to this situation would have been for Solomon to send in a team of trusted guards to remove Adonijah from the Temple and then have him executed. No leader of this era would have allowed a potential threat to the throne to stay alive.

But Solomon chooses a different path. He exercises mercy with Adonijah, promising him that, in spite of the fact the Adonijah had treacherously tried to steal the throne him, Solomon would allow him to live. But, from this point on, Adonijah was on a short leash. If he proved that he could not be a trusted supporter of Solomon and Israel, then Solomon would have no choice but to end his life, as many of his contemporaries would have already done.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 2

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. – 1 Chronicles 29:14

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 26, 2019): 1 Chronicles 29

We learn about ownership very early in life. As children, the toys that we played with were “mine.” The room in which we slept was “mine.” And you had better not violate my space. Ownership doesn’t seem to need to be taught. We understand the idea of mine very quickly, and often think that more things in our environment should be “ours.” What does need to be taught is the concept of sharing; taking what is mine and allowing someone else to play with it, either for a short period or permanently. But what is amazing about our sense of ownership during childhood is that very little of what we think we own as a child is really ours. It is something that I think as parents we need to realize. A child’s freedom and the ability to exercise ownership over the things in our lives is earned; it is not a right. And as the child grows older, the sense of responsibility that is required to get to exercise ownership over the things in our lives increases. Because the truth is that the child owns only the things that the parent allows them to possess. Everything that they think that they own comes from the hands of mom and dad.

David extends that concept to God. We are his children. Everything that we possess actually belongs to God. And like a child, when we give back to the work of God, when we give our offerings at church on Sunday morning, all that we are doing is giving back to God what is already his. None of what I possess is really mine; all of it belongs to God. And God wants to know that I understand the concept of ownership along with the ideas of sharing and responsibility.

And this has a significant impact on how we handle our money. Christian stewardship is not just found in the commitment to give a certain percentage of our income to the work of God. If everything that I own belongs to God, then stewardship is about how much I give directly to his work, how much I share with those in need, as well as how I choose to spend what is left over. And maybe one of the most distressing thing about our addictions is the amount of God’s money it takes to sustain them, and where those funds could have made a more significant difference, both in our lives and in the lives of those around us.    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 1

Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. – 1 Chronicles 28:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 25, 2019): 1 Chronicles 28

Hereditary Rule seemed to be a staple of the ancient world. In a world before democracy, and sometimes even after the advent of democratic rule, Hereditary Rule provided stability needed for a nation to grow. Revolts and battles for power were messy, so as long as a competent ruler could take over from the king’s family, that often seemed to be the preferable solution for the rule of the nation. Of course, competence with Hereditary Rule was not always assured. The idea of the oldest son taking over from the father also seems to be traditional, and it is also enshrined in the Bible. The oldest son was expected to take over the responsibilities of the father. Of course, God often had a different idea. Repeatedly, God seemed to step outside of the birth order to name the leader of the next generation. It happened with the sons of Isaac through the acknowledgment of Jacob as the leader of the family over the elder Esau. And it happened with Jacob’s sons, this time through Jacob’s selfish and destructive decision to honor Joseph over his elder brothers. The story continued with the sons of Joseph, where Ephraim is elevated over the elder Manasseh, this time as God seemed to move through Grandpa Jacob and over the objection of the boy’s father, Joseph.

And then David was made King over Israel, not as the leading member of one of the prominent clans of the nation, but as the youngest son of an insignificant family. Hereditary Rule seemed to be expected acknowledgment but often violated. So as David begins to consider the succession plan for Israel, he faces a significant obstacle. Israel has never had a royal succession before. Saul, the first king, was killed in battle with his sons. And while other family members believed that they deserved to ascend to the throne of the country, in the end, it was David who won out over the relatives of Saul. And in David’s own family, hereditary succession by the oldest son seemed to be expected, but that succession was complicated. His oldest son, Amnon, raped his sister and then was murdered by one of his brothers, Absalom. Kileab, also known as Daniel, likely died in his youth. David’s third son, Absalom, revolted against his father and tried to grab hold of the throne during David’s reign, and was killed in the process. David’s fourth son, and oldest surviving son, also rebelled and was disqualified from ascension to the throne.

So David chooses one of his younger sons to be the next King of Israel. David claims that God made the decision, but likely that was to increase the probability that his chosen successor would be accepted by the nation. Solomon had some very earthly qualifications for the office King. First, he was a son of David’s favorite wife, Bathsheba. Second, he is also likely the son or one of the sons that David was most hands-on with in terms of a raising. For most of the older sons, David seems to have been a permissive and often absentee father. But with Solomon, he was a very different parent. And so, whether or not God actually chose Solomon, Solomon was the son of David’s heart, just as Joseph had been the son of Jacob’s heart. Solomon had listened patiently at night as his dad had vocalized his dreams of a future Temple dedicated to God and built by one of his sons. And so Solomon became the son who David believe was best equipped to carry out his dad’s dream.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 29

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” – 2 Samuel 24:14

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 24, 2019): 2 Samuel 24

The Christian sermon that has possibly caused the most damage in the Christian World is Jonathan Edwards’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards wrote the sermon in the hopes of terrifying his audience. He wanted his listeners to fear God, to understand the clear reality of Hell, and that every sinner was leaving their eternal existence in the hands of a God who could, and would not hesitate, to send them to hell. So the only appropriate response for any of us, knowing that we are dealing with an angry God, is to repent of our sins and turn to him. The message is clear; it is better to play on God’s team than for those who oppose him.

And on the surface, the premise of Edwards’s sermon makes some sense. But the problem is that we are all sinners. Even after our conversion experiences, that moment in which we join God’s team, there are still moments when we don’t do as God would want us to do. And so we have developed doctrines like “once saved, always saved,” so that we will not find ourselves “in the hands of an angry God.” The defense of a permanent salvation has always been that the doctrine is necessary because the only other option is to live in fear of every time that we mess up, which would once again result in placing ourselves in the hands of angry God. As one theologian argued, if you do not accept some kind of a permanent salvation, then you have to admit that if you make a mistake and then die in a car accident, your only possible destination is hell at the hands of an angry God. And maybe that is true if we serve a God who is only angry.

David is on God’s team. But part of our attraction to the life of David is that he seems to be much like us. He believes in God, and he places his trust in him, yet he still messes up. It makes us feel a little better that even someone like David is not perfect. But it is also interesting that David is not scared of placing his life in the hands of an angry God.

David has sinned. And sin has consequences. By the way, that has not changed. We may be forgiven, but there are usually consequences to our sin. The death of Jesus on the cross paid the eternal penalty for our sin, but we still have some consequences that we have to pay. There are amends for our actions that are still our responsibility. So David sins, and he has consequences that he has to pay. And God gives David a choice. A long famine, a war, or a short plague. David chooses the plague. And his reason for his decision is the antithesis of Jonathan Edwards’s famous sermon. As a sinner, he would prefer to place himself in the hands of merciful God than in the hands of his enemies who would love to make him pay dearly for his success.

As sinners, and we all qualify for that label, we are in better shape, placing our existence in the hands of a God known for his mercy. And it is his mercy that we should be stressing about God more than his anger. It is not that God never gets angry. There is no doubt that God’s wrath, just like the existence of hell, is very real. But we need to remember that God’s anger is always tempered by his mercy. And his arms are always open to those of us, and that means all of us, who are sinners.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 28

My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. – Psalm 108:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 23, 2019): Psalm 108

I am finite. I understand this all too well. I know that I cannot do everything. A friend recently asked me why Christians insist that they are the experts in every area of life, and I understand the query. Often we make ourselves experts because we have listened to a speaker and not because we have done the research ourselves. We place our trust in the opinions of experts, and sometimes those experts have led us astray. But I know all too well that I am neither the expert nor can I do it all alone.

Recently I participated in a significant event for our local church. It is a small church, less than 70 people show up on the average Sunday, but every year for the past decade we have thrown a party for the community. On this day, we welcomed over 500 people onto the parking lot of the church. We ran out of everything, which sometimes is a good thing. But part of the problem with these events is that it takes everyone, and it is rare when everyone buys into any event. People who attended this event commented that the event was well organized. Positive comments abound. But there were a few comments that bothered me. A couple reported the hurt that comes with coming to church. One comment was that sometimes, those with mental limitations are marginalized. And I was hurt more than some might have imagined that I could be by these comments. These criticisms did not sum up the church of which I wanted to be a part. But the truth is that at a big event, it is often easy for any of us to feel that we are lost.

For my own experience, I know that I had one gentleman carefully follow me throughout the event wanting a few minutes of my time. Unfortunately, I am finite. As I ran from one commitment to another, and one fire that required my attention to the next, it wasn’t until we had closed the event that I was able to go and find the gentleman and invite him to come and sit in my office for a conversation. I felt terrible that he had waited so long, but it seemed to be the nature of the day.

My guess, and I still have an investigation to do, is that the Facebook concerns that I read about the event reflected the same issue. The leaders that were busy trying to put on the event did not have the time for the niceties that would typically accompany interpersonal interaction. I know that sometimes that is hard to understand, and it is something of which we all need to be aware, but it also a reflection of our being finite, and not infinite, people. All of this weighs heavy on my mind and my soul.

David says that his heart is steadfast. There is nothing new in this Psalm, other than the way that the Psalm is arranged. It reflects other things that David had written in his life. Once again, David reassures his reader that he knows where to place his attention. It is not on the finite vessels that surround him. It is not even in his own abilities. His attention and focus were on God. David had let people down. His advisors were not perfect. We are all limited. Our limited natures are innate in who we are. But God is not. And as David writes, “My heart is steadfast; my soul will sing and make music,” his words are not about the limited parts of our existence. His focus is on God.

And when things do not seem to go our way, God is where our focus should be as well. Even the best-intentioned people will let us down. But God is infinite and forever. And he is the only one who makes our hearts steadfast and secure.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 24

These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs.” – 2 Samuel 23:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 22, 2019): 2 Samuel 23

Sometimes, the problem with “last words” is that we often don’t know that they are going to be our last words. And usually the same is even more true of a musician’s last song. We don’t expect that this composition would be our last. There are always more words to write and more stories that need to be told. And I think that we always believe that there is a lot more time to get those stories told.

For instance, John Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980. John’s last words are usually believed to be “Yes I am” in response to the question “Are You John Lennon?” But there is a considerable amount of disagreement about what song might be his last. For some, it is the 1978 composition “Now and Then,” dedicated to Paul McCartney and apparently a song that he was still working on at the time of his death. Or maybe it was “I Don’t Want to Face It,” a song that John recorded on September 2, 1980, just over a month before his untimely death. But there are also several unfinished songs that vie for the honor of being his last poetic expression, including “Pop is the Name of the Game” and “You Saved My Soul.” All of these, and a few others, compete for the honor being called John Lennon’s last poetic utterance.

It is doubtful that the words recorded in 2 Samuel 23 were the final words of David, the poet king. But they are likely presented here as the final poetic expression of David. This is his last poem. Into this poem, he places the expression of his life, the belief that he held in God, and his hope for what was yet to come. But the words that introduce the poem are that of another Chronicler, expressing the respect that he and the nation held for their king. In the minds of the people, the opening words of David’s last poem are undeniably true. David was a prophet who heard God and spoke out his truth. Sometimes that truth was uncomfortable, and sometimes the listener did not want to agree with David’s poem. But there could be no doubt that his words came from God.

And this is the hope that every prophet and every pastor; that God would be the one who speaks through us. And that we would be the vessels for his message to the world, not just with our last words, but with all of them. And in this our dream is, and should be, that we would be just like David; men lifted up not by our own will, but by the hand of God, to speak his words to those willing to listen and who inhabit the space around us.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 108

David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. – 2 Samuel 22:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 21, 2019): 2 Samuel 22

Dire Straits released “Money for Nothing” in 1985. The single was taken off of the bands “Brothers in Arms” album and was written by Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler with a little help from Sting, who appears to sing the song with Knopfler, lending his signature high falsetto voice to the composition. (Sting argues that the only thing that he had to do with the song’s writing was to add the words “I want my MTV” at the beginning of the song. The phrase follows the melody line from Sting’s “Don’t Stand so Close to Me.”)

There is no doubt that the song, which won awards for performance and video production in 1985 and 1986, was controversial from the very beginning. Dire Straits replaced the word “faggot” with “queenie” in the lyrics of the second verse during public performances almost from the very inception of the song. But the change does not improve the acceptability of the song’s lyrics by much. Knopfler argues that the song is speaking of an ignorant part of our society and that it is that ignorance that is shown in the words of the song. Dire Straits dissolved in 1995. In 2011, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council banned the song from airplay. K-97 in Edmonton and Q104 in Halifax both responded to the ban by playing the song for an hour straight, without interruption. But it is an open question as to whether the song could even be written and released in today’s environment. It is not that the attitudes reflected in the song are not present in contemporary society, but rather that our sensitivities have changed. The song demonstrates a red-neck tendency that is present, but not accepted, by the majority of our culture.

The Psalm that is recorded in 2 Samuel 22 is not a new Psalm of David. It is an old one. With minor changes, the Psalm that we have here is a repetition of Psalm 18. Unlike Dire Straits “Money for Nothing,” Psalm 18 aged well. It was likely written when David was young, but the truth of the song was something that David could still say held true at the close of his life. David is not embarrassed by the words of his youth. It seems likely that it is a Psalm that David repeatedly sang throughout the length of his life. The odd word might have changed, but the sentiment remained true. The Psalm reflected the convictions of his youth, and they became the testimony of his later years. It reflected the confidence of his heart and the assurance that he found in his God. With every breath of his life, David could say, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer” (2 Samuel 22:2, Psalm 18:2).

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 23

During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” – 2 Samuel 21:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 20, 2019): 2 Samuel 21

One of the dangers of a democratic society is that there is a tendency for leadership to change frequently. And one question that is often brought to the forefront of the changing administrations is what is that we do with the promises of the past governments? Does a Democratic government in the United States have a responsibility to at least attempt to follow through on the obligations of the past, or can they say that they didn’t make the promise, so they feel no compulsion keep it? In recent years, it seems that the political commitments of one government tend to be revoked by the next administration. It doesn’t matter if it is a climate accord or a trade agreement, the new leader has a different set of priorities and, therefore, leans on the idea that it was not me who made that promise, so I am under no obligation to continue on a path that I was not party to in the beginning.

And that is a problem, at least for those who believe in God. God seems to want to view us according to how we keep our promises; even promises to which we were not a party. Fair? Sometimes we might not think so, but that does not seem to influence God.

The current story highlights this principle. The story of the Gibeonites begins in the days of Joshua. The Gibeonites tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them. Now, there is no doubt that the Gibeonites lied to Joshua. They portrayed themselves as a distant people and not a neighboring town. And Joshua had made a treaty with them, a promise for the future. The Gibeonites would be protected by Israel. We might argue that the lie invalidated the agreement. But that is not the verdict of Joshua. Joshua stood by the promise that he made to this Canaanite people.

Fast forward four centuries, and Saul becomes King over Israel. We don’t know the circumstances, the event is not recorded in 1 Samuel, but instead of keeping the promise that Joshua made to Gibeon, Saul violated the obligation and massacred a people that Joshua had promised to protect. I can almost hear the excuse of Saul. I have listened to it from our current political leaders. “That was one of the worst treaties the nation has ever made. As long as I am king, we will not keep bad promises.

But God seemed to have a different answer. Joshua made the promise. Whether it was good or bad didn’t matter. Saul was expected to keep the promise that Joshua had made for the nation. And if we believe that we serve an unchanging God, I am afraid that we have some broken national promises for which God is going to hold us responsible.    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 22          

We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?” – 2 Samuel 20:19

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 19, 2019): 2 Samuel 20

Alexander McCall Smith in his “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” remarks that “every man has a map in his heart of his own country and that the heart will never allow you to forget this map.” This is true of countries, and of regions and tribes. I have lived longer in the city I currently inhabit than I have lived anywhere else during my lifetime. And yet, in my heart, there is a deep affection for both the place of my birth and the place where I spent my late childhood and early teenage years. I have a love for the tribe of my early years, even though they hurt me and caused me to abandon them and leave for another clan. Neither of these things makes any sense except that there is a map inside our hearts that keep us leaning in a particular direction.

But what happens if you are missing that map, or more precisely if the allegiance of your youth is divided and that map never develops in your heart and your emotions. It is the question that the people of Abel Beth Maakah had to answer. For most of their existence, they were a frontier, border community existing on the north edge of Israel. While it is likely that during the days of David the border had been pushed further to the north, Abel Beth Maakah was still seen as a border community. And the question that hovered around the town was where exactly did their allegiance lie? Were they cheering for a healthy, united Israel, or did they think that any conflict that would weaken Israel would be in their favor? The answer to that question would ultimately determine their fate.

So Sheba runs to Abel Beth Maakah hoping that they will protect them. But as the army of Israel gathers around the community, a wise woman, probably some kind of oracle, demands to speak to the general of the army. And when Joab comes near, she issues her defense of her community. Abel Beth Maakah might be a border town, but the city's allegiance lies solidly with Israel. And in her defense of the city, she uses this phrase; Abel Beth Maakah is “a city that is a mother in Israel.” This is the only place in the Bible where that phrase is used to describe a community, and it is likely a statement of political and religious allegiance with the people of Jerusalem. There is no tendency toward rebellion in Abel Beth Maakah. And there is no need for the army of Israel to surround the city. The people of the town will be faithful servants of the king, and they will do whatever the king, through Joab, demands.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 21

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. – 2 Samuel 19:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 18, 2019): 2 Samuel 19

The presence of propaganda in our society is the norm and not the exception. Almost sixty years ago, John F. Kennedy argued against the Republican Party’s propaganda laced campaign saying that “they follow the Hitler line - no matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as truth.” But there is a good reason for the lie, even if it is not a moral one. Fear seems to motivate us more than anything else in our lives. If I can make you afraid of something, I have a decent chance of getting you to do, or vote, what I want you to do. If we're going to wage war against someone, even on a spiritual basis, first we have to make the people afraid of them. They have to be a threat. And they are always the liars, not us; even though propaganda is used by every side of a conflict.

But the truth is that the enemy is probably not a bunch of demons, just as we are not gathering of the angels. We are a mixture of the good and the bad. And this was true in the relationship of David and Absalom. There is no doubt that Absalom had been provoked by David’s inaction into his rebellion. David knew that. The seeds of the uprising lay with David, and so it was David who was ultimately to blame for Absalom’s death. There were things that David could have done differently, especially with regard Amnon’s, Absalom’s brother, rape of Tamar, Absalom’s sister. But because David refused to act, Absalom killed Amnon and then was forced into exile. And it was in exile that the rebellion began to take root. David could have done things differently, but he didn’t.

And all of this was on David’s mind and heart as he mourned the death of his son. David knew that all of the tragedy should be placed on his shoulders. But the problem with David’s mourning is that the soldiers needed to believe that Absalom was a demon who needed to be killed. And Joab needed his soldiers to believe that the next conflict was also against a band of demons. Propaganda was essential to the military campaigns of Israel. David was humanizing the enemy, and Joab could not let his soldiers believe that the enemy was made up of humans.

But there is probably also an element of Joab’s guilt at play here. He had killed Absalom, even though that was against the King’s orders. His action probably made him feel the emotions suffered by the king in a genuine way. He had acted as he believed was best for Israel, but what is best is often divorced from our emotions. There are always times when we must do things that we do not want to do.

Some commentators who seem to argue in favor of Joab saying that “Joab gave David a stern wake-up call. ‘David, your excessive mourning is selfish. It isn’t all about you. These loyal, sacrificial supporters of yours deserve to feel good about their victory, and you are making them feel terrible. Snap out of it’” (David Guzik). But the situation was much more complicated than that kind of propaganda. And much more human.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 20                                                       

But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ – 2 Samuel 18:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 17, 2019): 2 Samuel 18

In our society, money often seems to be an end in itself. There is no doubt that money is a tool. It buys us food and lodging; it gives us the opportunity for recreation. And then, of course, there are the toys that it buys. But in the end, money can only be a tool. When money becomes an end, then there is little left to life. Charity becomes hard because all that matters is how much wealth we are accumulating. And, when money becomes an end, we are often willing to risk life for the potential of receiving a monetary reward.

It is the position in which this unnamed soldier is placed. There is no doubt that there is a disagreement between the King and his generals. The generals are aware of a truth that the king just cannot acknowledge. The rebellion will end if the pretender to the throne dies. It is that simple. A targeted attack against the usurper to the throne will end the current conflict. No more men need to die. The king’s problem is that the one who stole his throne is his son. He remembers his son fondly. He knows the hopes that he holds for him. He desires the best for his child. He even experiences some guilt about the lessons that he did not teach him during the days of his youth; lessons that just might have changed the present. The generals know that the son must die; the king hopes that the son will live.

And so, as this unnamed soldier comes across Absalom, he is aware of conflicting purposes of those above him. He could rescue the son from his predicament and earn the gratitude of the king. Or he could kill the son and receive a reward from the generals. But what would the reward be worth if the act caused his life to be taken from him? And what would the king’s favor matter, if his generals felt that he had betrayed their purposes? They would never trust him again.

Instead, the soldier decides to take a third path. He sees Absalom hanging in a tree and decides to leave him there. After all, what good is money if life is removed. And what good is honor, if respect is lost. There was no winning strategy, and so the soldier simply refuses to act.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 19

I would flee far away and stay in the desert. – Psalm 55:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 16, 2019): Psalm 55

Czech born but self-described Frech writer Milan Kundera, in his book “Ignorance,” argues that “The Greek word for "return" is nostos. Algos means "suffering." So nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return.” Kundera believes that our pain today is only increased because of our longing for yesterday. A church leader once commented to me that the church is well-positioned for ministry if we ever return to the 1950s. But the truth is that the 1950s will never return. And so we long for a time that has passed. We remember the successes, often inaccurately, of what happened yesterday. And in doing so, we refuse to prepare for tomorrow, and we create a greater emotional distance between the presence of yesterday and the reality of today. And our suffering is increased.

David admits that there is part of him that would like to flee from the stresses of his day and stay in the desert. He would be willing to lessen his influence on a nation to have a life that is ruled to a greater extent by peace. And part of David’s desire is that he wants to return to what he remembers as the simpler days; days when he wandered through the wilderness and God seemed to care for his needs miraculously. But, while David remembers those times with fondness, the reality is that as David lived through those memories, that they were often filled with great stress and a questioning of whether tomorrow was even possible. David’s suffering in the present was increased by a view of the past that was rosier than reality, and his desire to flee from the stress of his day to that time and place, a time and place that never really existed, is misplaced.

And yet this is our reality. We still like to remember, and wish that we could live in times past. When the stress mounts in our lives, we often increase our suffering by wishing that we could return to a yesterday that never really happened. Charles Spurgeon, quoting an older theologian, argues that “it would have been more honourable for him (David) to have asked for the strength of an ox to bear his trials, than for the wings of a dove to flee from them.” More honorable, maybe. But it might also have been an impossible task for David, or for us. We seem naturally bent toward nostalgia. And there are times when that is okay. But as we immerse ourselves nostalgia, we need to remember that too much time wishing for the past does increase our suffering in the present. We need to understand that the history that we remember is far different from the long-gone days that we experienced. And that the 1950’s, or any other past decade will not be returning. Their trials and their blessings were reserved for that day. And today brings a new trial and many new blessings. And we need to greet today with everything that God provides us.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 18

I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. – Psalm 41:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 15, 2019): Psalm 41

“I am right, and I think we will all get along a lot better if you will just remember that one fact about me.” I am in a lot of conversations where this seems to be the intent of the one to whom I am speaking. And I often wish that I had that kind of confidence. The truth is that I don’t. I am not a black and white person, although I seem to live in a black and white world. Some of my opponents argue that it be a lot better if I would live in that black and white world, especially if it is their version of black and white. But that does not seem to be me. I admit that I am more comfortable hiding within the greys. My spirit never wants truth handed to it; it craves the struggle it finds on the way to the discovery of truth.

There are some things that I know. But even these things did not come easily for me. I know that we are to love, and not just love when it is convenient, but love when it is awkward and inconvenient. We are to love the one who does not love us and does not respond appropriately to our love. There is no moment in life where we get to give up and say, “well, at least I tried. But his idiot just isn’t willing to act appropriately.” People of love is part of who we are created to be. But I cannot say that this is something that I have always known. In truth, this is something that I have struggled with before finally arriving at truth. This revelation was not given to be at the beginning of the journey, but something that I had to search for to figure out. And the extent to which I believe that we are to love is still a struggle for me, and I realize it is a struggle for most of those around me.

Maybe it is because of the struggle that there are several places in the Psalms where I find myself more than a little uncomfortable. And this would be one of those places. When the Psalmist says “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you” (Psalm 41:4), I can form my little cheering section and applaud the Psalmist’s honesty. I understand those words with the core of my being. But when the Psalmist says, “God, I know that you are on my side and are happy with me,” I admit that I pull back a little. I don’t know that with any part of my being. I am afraid that if I did that, I would lose my footing, that I would fall back in my faith because the struggle is no longer there. I am convinced that, at least for me, the presence of God can only be found in the struggle. My prayer is more likely to be “God, let me find you in the struggle. Guide me toward the places where you are.” Maybe David was content that God was happy with him. But I refuse to be. I need to find the presence of my God amid my struggle to see him, and in my struggle to be the person that he wants me to be. 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 55

I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king … - 2 Samuel 17:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 14, 2019): 2 Samuel 17

Wars can be fought in two ways. One is an indiscriminate attack of the enemy. Generally, this is the model of attack maintained by almost every terrorist organization in the world. The idea is to attack the enemy. It doesn’t matter who dies; it just matters that death occurs. Civilians and military combatants are both targets, and the hope is that terror would spread among the population. But the problem with this indiscriminate attack is that mobilizes everyone on the other side against you. Everyone is a target, and so everyone quickly becomes a threat.

The second model is a targeted attack. The hope in this model is to just take out military combatants and obstacles. The idea is that if you can remove the threat without collateral damage, then maybe you can win the battle without making everyone your enemy. Then, when you take the territory, eventually all of the inhabitants will accept you, or whoever you install as the leader, as the legitimate political authority in the land. And it is this second model that Ahithophel is hoping Absalom will adopt. The idea is that if only David is targeted, and if it is only David and maybe a few of his bodyguards and generals who will die in the attack, then the immediate result might be that those supporting David will be thrown into confusion. But in the end, many of them may become peaceful servants of King Absalom. Only then would Absalom, as the reigning monarch, be allowed to become the king of all of the people.

But Ahithophel also makes a slip of the tongue as he gives Absalom his advice. According to the reality of the day, David had been defeated and deposed. David was now in exile and Absalom was king over Israel. And yet Ahithophel makes this comment to Absalom; “I would strike down only the king.” It seems that even Ahithophel realizes that as long as David lives, he is the King.

Scholars believe that Ahithophel might have also been the grandfather of Bathsheba. If that is true, then he may have also had a personal interest in making sure that only David dies. He may view David as the enemy of his family, and at the same time, may have wanted to protect the life of his granddaughter. So it becomes even more critical to Ahithophel that only the king is struck down.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 41

But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. - Psalm 63:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 13, 2019): Psalm 63

Hezekiah stood on the walls of the city. Everything had come to a standstill. The enemy could not get into the city and, because Hezekiah had ordered all of the wells in the area blocked before the siege began, there was no local water for them. But they could bring the needed water in for the troops. Another work project, a tunnel over a half kilometer in length extending from the city to the Spring of Gihon, also ensured that Jerusalem would have all of the water it needed. Hezekiah was safe, at least for the moment, but he was in prison. His life would likely end if he tried to leave the city.

Outside the city, Sennacherib had gathered his army, somewhere around 200,000 soldiers waited on Hezekiah’s next move. The new Assyrian king was already bragging that he had Hezekiah trapped like a caged bird. It was only a matter of time before Jerusalem would fall. The rest of the Judean cities had already been taken, and, soon, the jewel would also fall into the hands of the Assyrian ruler.

Back inside the city, there were discussions taking place about what should happen next. Jerusalem could not fight Sennacherib; all they could do was decide to live out one more day in their prison. But as long as the Assyrian army waited outside the city gates, there was an expiry date on the city. They had all the water they needed to survive, but eventually, the food supply would run out. Only Isaiah seemed to be preaching a message of patience. He was sure that God would come through. God would move in a way that would save the city from the clutches of the Assyrians. If only they would wait. Hezekiah took his cousin’s advice. He waited. And the city prayed that something would happen.

It happened one night. Israel went to bed as prisoners in their caged city. But when they awoke, there was no movement outside of the city walls. All of the tents and weapons still stared back up at them, but nothing was moving. Could this be some elaborate trick to get Hezekiah to open the gates of the city? Eventually, Hezekiah did open the gates. He sent messengers out to inspect what had happened to the Assyrians. What they found were 185,000 dead soldiers. No one is sure what happened, but it seems likely that the waste from the army had attracted the mice and rats in the area with all of their diseases. Hezekiah won the war, without a shot being fired.

David wrote this Psalm, but I can almost hear Isaiah quoting the last verse, standing on the walls of the city with King Hezekiah. It is written in the future. The King will rejoice in all that God has done. I know that you do not feel the desire to celebrate now, but the day is coming when the power of God will be revealed. All who depend on God will rejoice, while the mouths of those who oppose him will be silenced.

They are words that we should remember. God is on the move. You may not feel it now, but you will rejoice. All who depend on God will find their fulfillment in him. And those who don’t may speak their denials in the present, but in the future, they will have nothing to say.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 17

He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! - 2 Samuel 16:6-7

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 12, 2019): 2 Samuel 16

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It is an old adage that encourages the child not to react physically to verbal taunts. Over the past couple of centuries, the adage has appeared in a few forms, but the original structure would seem to repeat the word break in both phrases of the saying. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.”

The adage has been embraced by pacifists and Christians ever since it appeared in the writings of our culture. But the reality is that the adage is simply not true. We should not respond violently to any kind of provocation, but we also should not minimize the pain that is produced by our words. Words hurt, and the pain just might be more long-lasting and pervasive than the scratches and wounds produced by “sticks and stones.”

Shimei may not have known of the adage, but he wasn’t taking any chances. His response to David was to injure him in every way possible; he threw stones and issued his curses directed at the hurting king as the king passed him. As a supporter of Saul, Shimei had never been a fan of Saul. But he had likely been silent. But now that David was in trouble any reservation to let the king know what he thought had been removed. He probably thought that with David on the run, now it would be safe to let the deposed king know precisely how he felt.

There will always be people who will hold their complaints until someone is suffering adversity. The moment when we need encouragement the most is often the moment when people choose to pile on, complaining about both those things that are true and they disagree with, and those things that are untrue. You don’t have to be a king to experience this kind of treatment. These are moments that happen to all of us. Charles Spurgeon remarks on this passage with these words; “It is very hard to bear a cowardly attack. One is very apt to reply and use hard words to one who takes advantage of your position and deals you the coward’s blow. Only the coward strikes a man when he is down.”    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 63